BOSTON (AP) -- It took the Boston Celtics a half to get used to

playing without Gary Payton. After that, the New Orleans Hornets

didn't have a chance.

Paul Pierce had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his

fourth career triple-double and Boston recovered from an awful

first half without its point guard to beat New Orleans 108-90

Monday night, sending the Hornets to their eighth consecutive loss.

"We were a little bit stagnant, a little confused. In the

second half we started to get things going," Pierce said. "With

or without Gary, these are games we're supposed to win."

Payton did not dress for the game because of a strained left

hamstring, ending his streak of 305 consecutive games played -- the

second-longest active streak in the league. Marcus Banks made his

third career start and had five points and one assist after getting

into early foul trouble.

"Marcus has to play better," coach Doc Rivers said.

Rivers complained of 16 first-half turnovers that led to 17

Hornets points. New Orleans also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds in

the first half to muster a 46-46 tie at halftime.

But the Celtics had 13 assists and six turnovers in the second

half while allowing the Hornets only three more offensive rebounds.

"The first half, I thought we were pretty much awful. No way

around that," Rivers said. "It was a huge swing."

Raef LaFrentz had 14 points and 12 rebounds and Ricky Davis

scored 23 for Boston, which had lost four of its previous five

games.

Lee Nailon and Baron Davis scored 18 apiece for New Orleans,

which fell to an NBA-worst 2-27. Rodney Rogers returned to the

lineup after missing 24 games with a sprained left knee and had 10

points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes. P.J. Brown had 15

rebounds.

"We don't know how to win. We don't know how to win. We don't

know what it takes to win in this league," Hornets coach Byron

Scott said. "For some reason, we got satisfied. We were happy. We

played a pretty good first half. ... But in the second half, they

turned it up a bit and we just folded like a cheap suit."

The game was tied at the half and Boston led just 52-51 with

8:34 left in the third when Banks, on an assist from Pierce, made a

layup that started a 10-1 run. Pierce finished it with a 3-pointer,

on an assist from Banks, to make it 62-51.

The Hornets closed within four points, 67-63, before the Celtics

scored 24 of the next 28 points to put the game away.Game notes
The Hornets swept the Celtics last season. ... To make room

for Rogers, who was activated before the game, New Orleans waived

forward Corsley Edwards. ... Payton had not missed a game since a

strained abdominal muscle kept him out of Seattle's game against

the Vancouver Grizzlies on Feb. 5, 2001. He had missed just three

games due to injury in a 13-year career. "This whole thing scares

me because it's a hamstring," Rivers said. Washington's Antawn

Jamison has played in 357 straight games. A.C. Green holds the NBA

record of 1,192 consecutive games. ... Jim Jackson remained on

suspension for refusing to report to the Hornets after being traded

to New Orleans from Houston.